With Wild Animals

In reference to his coming retirement Eagles center Jason Kelce was asked why he chose to play football and I think his response has a lot to say to Christians about healthy faith.

"I’ve been asked many times why did I choose football, what drew me to the game and I never have an answer that gets it right,” Kelce said. “The best way I can explain it is what draws you to your favorite song, your favorite book, what makes you feel. The seriousness of it. The intensity of it. Stepping on the field was the most alive and free I had ever felt. It was a visceral feeling with football, unlike any other sport. The hairs on my arms would stand up."

I think this is the same feeling that the first chapter of Mark is supposed to elicit. Mark is the most stingy of the gospel writers. He keep's rushing to the next scene before he has time give any details, especially in the early chapters. As an example, in 1:13 Mark says that when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness he was "with the wild animals." It's an odd detail to include. On the one hand it feels unnecessary, of course he was with animals in the wilderness. On the other hand, if you're going to say it then give me more, tell me why it's important. I think the key is that Mark was writing to Christians in Rome during a time when they were being fed to wild animals. Most of us have experienced some mild persecution, maybe we've had friends or parents not take us as seriously as they would have otherwise, but this is a different category. This is visceral, physically felt by everyone who's dear friends, parents, children, husbands or wives were brutally murdered. When Mark's first readers heard that Jesus was with the wild animals they knew that these words were aimed directly at them. They were with the animals and he was with the animals.

Jason Kelce felt the hair on his arm stand up because football was that real, that "serious" to him, and Mark wants the same for us. He wants us to feel the immediate power of a savior who loves us this way. Mark is telling us that our faith addresses our most immediate needs so directly that it should make the hair on our arms stand up.

So what can we do on a Friday? Two things, and don't do the first without the second.

1. Close your eyes, and list the things you are afraid of. Go as deep as you can. It's okay to feel the fear for a few minutes.

2. Now close your eyes again and hear Jesus say over and over how deep his love is for you. See him standing there with you, at this very moment, defeating the wild animals of your fear, shame, sin, insecurity and guilt. He is setting you free to run with him.

Here as in heaven...

Adam